Archive for month: October, 2017

When a motorcycle accident happens, no matter who’s at fault, the motorcycle and its rider almost always suffer the greatest amount of damage. In the immediate aftermath, hiring a lawyer is the last thing on your mind, but in the hours and days that follow, it should be high on your list of priorities.

First Steps (Barring Serious Injury, Of Course)

Along with your license, insurance card, and list of medications and emergency contacts, keep a short list of what to do in the event of a motorcycle accident.

Dial 911.

Administer first aid or keep an injured person still and warm until first responders arrive.

Barring serious injury, start gathering as much information as you can:

Contact information for all involved, including witnesses.

Insurance information of drivers.

Make, model, and license plates of involved vehicles.

Pictures and video of the scene from different points of view.

Save time and prevent mistakes by using your phone’s camera and video features.

Record witness accounts and your own side of the story while everything is fresh in your mind.

Do not leave the scene unless you’re transported by EMTs.

Afterward, Watch Your Step

In the days that follow an accident, the other party’s insurance company will probably contact you. Don’t talk to them — they specialize in asking questions in ways that will trip you up and make your insurance company liable.

Hard as it may be to wait, don’t repair your bike right away. Wait for a professional assessment of the damage.

Keep records of all your expenses related to the motorcycle accident, such as repair bills, medical visits and bills, costs to rent another vehicle, and costs associated with time off work.

As Soon As Possible, Consult an Attorney

Even if your bike was the only vehicle involved in the motorcycle accident, an attorney can figure out if there were extenuating circumstances beyond your control, such as incorrect or unclear signage, poorly maintained road surfaces, or malfunctioning traffic lights.

The attorneys of Pat Maloney understand a motorcyclist’s love of freedom, but after a motorcycle accident is no time to go it alone. Contact us today!

Hard statistics pertaining to pedestrian accidents in San Antonio can be hard to pin down, mainly because so many of them go unreported. We do know for sure that according to the Governors Highway Safety Association, the number of pedestrian/traffic fatalities leaped over 11 percent in 2016.

With pedestrian accidents in San Antonio also on the rise, let’s look at what we can do — behind the wheel and on foot — to avoid serious injury and death.

Stay Off Cell Phones When in Motion

Both drivers and walkers can decrease the chances of an accident by putting their phones away and keeping their eyes on their surroundings. Studies have shown drivers can cover the length of a football field or more when they think they’re glancing at their phones “for just a second.” In addition, pedestrians have been known to walk right into traffic, walls, or construction hazards on the sidewalk without looking.

Increase Your Visibility

Drivers can increase their chances of being seen by keeping their headlights on both day and night. Likewise, pedestrians need to be aware that as a smaller, slower-moving target, they aren’t as likely to be noticed at a distance as a larger object. Wearing brightly colored, reflective clothing at night helps, but in addition, consider wearing reflective trim that accentuates the body’s movement, which is more likely to catch the eye.

Obey Traffic Laws

Again, both drivers and walkers bear some responsibility for preventing pedestrian accidents in San Antonio. Drivers should not block crosswalks when waiting to make a turn, or step on the gas to avoid having to wait for a pedestrian to clear the crosswalk. Walkers should cross streets only at designated, clearly marked points and should do so only after having checked for approaching traffic, even when they have the right of way.

When pedestrian accidents in San Antonio occur, who’s at fault is too often a moot point. In the collision between a ton or two of steel and a human body, the human body is going to come out the loser. The attorneys at Pat Maloney understand this, so call us today.

It’s been said that the best way to stay organized and on track is to make a list. This holds especially true when you need a work injury lawyer after an on-the-job accident puts your health and financial future at risk.

It’s not a bad idea to make an “in case of work injury” checklist to keep in the file folder where all your other work-related paperwork lives. Here’s what this list should include:

A Good Work Injury Lawyer Must Listen

There’s nothing worse than sitting across from the one person who could make or break your workers’ comp case and having the sinking feeling that they’re more interested in their cell phone than what you’re saying. If they’re not making eye contact, asking good questions, taking notes, and generally treating you with respect, you’re just a number to them and you should move on.

They Must Have a Good Reputation

This may take a little research on your part, but a work injury lawyer’s reputation precedes them. Would you rather the judge nod in respect when you and your attorney enter the room, or frown in disapproval?

In fact, if you are aware of coworkers who have successfully concluded their workers’ comp cases, keep a list of the work injury lawyers responsible.

They Must Be Knowledgeable

There’s much more to a good work injury lawyer than the college degree hanging on the office wall. That degree is only marks the beginning of a career, not what the person has made of it. They should have a thorough knowledge of applicable laws, the industry in which you work, and the medical hurdles you face.

They Must Have a Positive Attitude

Self-confidence is a quality that a good work injury lawyer wears like a second skin. It can’t be faked. Do you leave a meeting or end a phone call less anxious than when it started? Or more anxious? Trust your gut on this.

A work injury lawyer at Pat Maloney will have your back. Call us today.

If you work in an industry that involves driving trucks, chances are that your main job is getting from point A to point B on time and under budget — end of job description. Your responsibility for the truck itself may not go much further than ensuring there’s enough gas in the tank to complete the assigned job. But poor truck maintenance is a significant contributing factor to many road and construction site accidents.

There are many signs that the truck you’re driving for your job may not be properly maintained. Checking for these indications of poor truck maintenance could not only save your job, it could also save your life and those of the other drivers who share the road.

Damaged windows, particularly the windshield
Cracks in the windshield, side windows, or rear window could block your vision just enough to affect your reaction time. You can’t avoid a crash if you don’t see the danger coming. In addition, a cracked windshield isn’t as effective at deflecting flying objects as an intact one.

Worn-out brakes
Is there a terrible grinding sound or a distinct wobble or vibration when you apply the brakes, especially at highway speeds? Does the truck pull to one side or the other when you step on the pedal? This sign of poor truck maintenance means the brakes are long overdue to be serviced.

Broken or burned-out headlights, turn signals, or other lights.
Not only is it illegal in most places to drive with a headlight out, it’s dangerous, especially at night. A broken interior light can be more than a minor inconvenience if an emergency situation arises.

Old, bald tires
Tires with worn-down tread — or worse, completely bald — not only decrease your traction, they raise the likelihood you’ll roll over in a high-speed accident.

What Can You Do?

With poor truck maintenance as a leading cause of vehicle accidents, your safety is as important as that of other drivers on the road. Inspect your assigned vehicle before and after every run, and make sure the personnel responsible follow through with repairs.

If you’re in an accident due to poor truck maintenance, make sure your “repair schedule” includes a Pat Maloney attorney. Call us today.

ABOUT US

The Law Offices of Pat Maloney has established a tradition of excellence and dedication for our clients who have been victimized. As a leading San Antonio personal injury lawyer, we are known and respected throughout San Antonio, the state of Texas, and the nation as one of the preeminent law firms in America.